Greinar (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.01.1943, Síða 168

164
through the darkness of sorrow, but Jesus has already
shown the way etc.
This is all very prosaic when thus set forth, but it is
full of majesty and flows smoothly in Pétursson’s
rendering, becoming a handbook of all kinds of wisdom.
One of the most beautiful hymns is number 44 on the last
(the seventh) word of Christ on the cross: “Father into
thy hands I command my spirit.” This hymn might have
been written in separate parts, but it is ingeniously built
up on the two words, ‘father’ and ‘hands’ being introduced
in verse 1, then the word ‘Father’ interpreted in verses 2-6
and in the same way the word ‘hand’ in verses 7—15.
Then comes an entr’acte, and last some closing verses,
19—22, where these two words are entwined.
But all this masterly composition only serves as a
foundation of the sublime and yet simple poetry, the
traces of composition disappearing in its radiant splen-
dour, unless carefully observed.
On the whole the Passion-Hymns are characterized by
their rare simplicity in respect of both form and matter.
The poet knows all the devices of art, but they are used
so discreetly that they remain unnoticed. All the elaborate
metres have disappeared, all the metrical intricacies have
been laid aside. But the wrestling with these difficult
metres qualified the poet for his task.
Serenity and majesty are another chief characteristic
of the Passion-Hymns. Personal feelings are suppressed,
sentimentality and verbosity do not exist (which shows
clearly how independent Hallgríinur Pétursson is of his
chief model Martin Moller). Then there is that wisdom
of life and those profound rules for the care of the soul,
which have always been thought to constitute the chief
value of the Passion-Hymns. In our daily life sayings
from the Passion Hymns apply from morning to evening,
and a number of sentences from them have become daily
proverbs. All this wisdom is acquired by Hallgrímur Pét-
ursson, as he follows his Saviour, step by step, on his via
dolorosa, watching him and those around him, friends